President Donald Trump has announced a sweeping new tariff regime featuring a 10% global minimum tariff on imports, with even higher rates imposed on countries with substantial trade surpluses with the US. These elevated tariffs, which begin at 15% and reach as high as 40% for certain nations, are set to take effect after August 7, following a brief transitional period for US border authorities.

Tariff-related price increases are expected to become more apparent at the end of the third quarter, with companies exhausting the extra inventory accumulated ahead of new US duties, according to the International Chamber of Commerce. US consumers have so far been shielded from the impact of tariffs due to the stock buildup, but the effect will likely intensify once reserves are depleted. Some multinational firms are considering global price increases to offset rising costs.

City Electric Supply achieved a number of milestones during its 2024-2025 fiscal year, including opening 36 branches in the US and Canada, celebrating the 25th anniversary of 11 locations and opening a fulfillment center in Toronto. The company also made several key leadership changes with the retirement of General Counsel Meg Shockley and the appointment of Sharon Hong as communications and marketing chief for North America.

US labor costs increased by 0.9% in the second quarter of 2025, slightly exceeding economists' expectations of a 0.8% increase. The increase mirrors the 0.9% rise of the previous quarter, bringing the 12-month growth to 3.6%. Wages and salaries, which comprise most of labor costs, rose by 1.0% in the second quarter, while benefits increased by 0.7%. The uptick in labor costs comes even as the job market momentum slows and businesses remain cautious about hiring.

A wave of price hikes is hitting consumer goods as companies respond to increased costs from tariffs. Adidas signaled possible US price increases after reporting a $231 million cost spike linked to tariffs for the second half of 2025. Procter & Gamble plans to raise prices on about a quarter of its product lineup. Other major brands, including Walmart, Ralph Lauren and Nike, have also announced price increases tied to tariff pressures.

SolarEdge and Solar Landscape are launching a large-scale initiative to install solar panels on more than 500 warehouse rooftops across the US. Shaun Keegan, CEO of Solar Landscape, noted that there are financial benefits to this kind of development. "Leasing your roof can add 3% to 5% to the net operating income of a building. So there's real economic value in addition to sustainability," Keegan said. Solar Landscape works with companies including Prologis, Inc. and Public Storage.

AI is transforming supply chain sourcing by empowering procurement professionals rather than replacing them, writes Vaibhav Deshmukh, a supply chain manager for an electric vehicle manufacturer. AI excels at automating repetitive tasks and analyzing data at unparalleled speed, allowing professionals to focus on strategic decisions. However, human expertise is needed for nuanced judgment and relationship management.

AI is transforming marketing by shifting the focus from demographic-based personas to individual behavior in a trend known as "B2Me," writes LinkedIn's Purna Virji. This approach leverages real-time data to understand and predict consumer intent, leading to more personalized and effective marketing strategies. "B2Me is empathy at scale, helping you see people, not personas. It empowers you to show up in the moments that matter, even the ones we'll never see," Virji writes.

Mergers and acquisitions activity in the US surged to its highest weekly volume since 2021 last week, defying the usual late-summer slowdown. Dealmakers are energized as a robust economy, expectations of lower interest rates and recent trade pacts fuel renewed confidence to pursue transactions. The momentum is expected to carry through August and accelerate further after Labor Day.

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